Don't House Hunt Without One Essential Tool To Check Electrical Systems

There are a lot of important factors to identify before buying a new home. There are some issues that can be assessed fairly quickly on a tour, including neighborhood safety, structural integrity and water damage, pest problems, and loose floorboards. Other problems can slip under the radar if you're not actively looking for them, and these may cause major headaches in the future, especially if those problems have to do with the home's wiring. That's why, right next to carrying a golf ball for testing slopes when house hunting, every potential buyer should carry a voltage tester to every open house.

According to the United States Fire Administration (a division of FEMA), in 2022 there were an estimated 26,100 fires caused by electrical malfunctions. Those fires resulted in nearly $1.5B in property loss and claimed the lives of 185 people. Unless you have superpowers, there's no way to fully inspect wires inside walls during a tour. That's where devices like the Klein Tools RT250 GFCI Outlet Tester come in handy. These pocket-sized, battery-operated tools can expose red flags not visible to the naked eye, saving time, money, and potentially your life.

There are several types of voltage testers, each with a different set of features and unique indicators. Generally speaking, voltage testers are used to detect electrical current in circuits. If outlets are not getting power, or if they are not wired correctly, it is in your best interest to know.

There are non-contact voltage testers available that do not require touching metal. While those are useful to have, they are not the most accurate or reliable, according to Ask This Old House and electrician Heath Eastman. Most professionals use contact testers, or multimeters, which provide information on continuity, resistance, and other things that laypersons don't really need to know. House hunters should keep a receptacle tester handy because they are literally plug-and-go. The RT250 GFCI tester (GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is a highly-rated receptacle tester with an LCD screen that shows voltages and faults. It also features green and red "Correct" and "Fault" indicator lights on the bottom for even quicker results. Identifying electrical wiring issues gives potential buyers the opportunity to either resolve those problems with the current owners before signing any paperwork, or to walk away from the deal altogether.